LPG Fuel

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 16:33

Give me reasons why I shouldnt get an LPG fuel car

SeatIbiza · 23 Mar 2010 at 16:44

Cost of conversion and the recuperation time of that initial cost.

A car already done is not a bad option really.

Maybe lack of filling up points?

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 16:45

I have two fill up points within 10 miles
Also I would be trading in my car and getting a second hand car with one already fitted
The part that is worrying me is being caught out on a motorway with nowhere to fill up, but the car will still run on petrol??

ajstan · 23 Mar 2010 at 16:53

Can't go on eurotunnel, damages engine slightly because it runs at higher temps

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 16:55

so not a good idea to buy one with high mileage, I heard if the car is run on petrol for the last little bit of the journey its fine

fornowagain · 23 Mar 2010 at 17:01

CoxyBoy123 said:
I have two fill up points within 10 miles
Also I would be trading in my car and getting a second hand car with one already fitted
The part that is worrying me is being caught out on a motorway with nowhere to fill up, but the car will still run on petrol??

I had a car converted, just flick a switch and its back to petrol. Covered 100K miles and never missed a beat. Car rusted apart eventually, drove it to the scrapper using LPG.

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 17:01

Great!
What car was it?

fornowagain · 23 Mar 2010 at 17:20

It was big old Renault Savanna 7 seater tank, 2.0. Good old girl really. LPG tank went in the spare tyre well.

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 17:21

I am thinking of a BMW e36 tourer, because you dont lose boot space and its still quite luxurious, anybody heard any bad points about these car whether it be to do with LPG or Not

grudas · 23 Mar 2010 at 17:30

never heard anything bad about it.. and i lived in country where 1 in 2 cars is LPG converted.. its much cheaper.. so why not? i wouldn't bother in something with 2-3 litres.. but something like 7 series bmw or lexus with 4.0 or so liter engine its well worth it

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 17:31

Where was this?/
Definately considering it

.:MBK:. · 23 Mar 2010 at 18:53

Run an E34 525 on LPG and tbh more issues have arisen from the petrol fueling system in the time ive owned it than the LPG, refuelings a bit of a bugger round here (only one station, and its a ripoff).

Already had the conversion when i inherited it so no expense there. I would only consider another LPG car if it was already converted and with the relevant paper work, the prospect of a bodge job on a fuel system is quite un-nerving. It is also nice on larger cars as chances are the spare wheel well could likely fit a proper sized tank, say ~80L assuming it has a proper spare wheel and not one of those hateful steel disc space saver things you seem to get these days

Kitchster_uk · 23 Mar 2010 at 19:09

Ran an E34 540 LPG for a while. If it's a decent conversion and has been looked after, it's not a worry. You also need a specialist nearby for servicing - do it right. Only touvh anything that has full history and been properly looked after. Oh, bigger engines are best as there is some power loss.

Lum · 23 Mar 2010 at 19:11

ajstan said:
damages engine slightly because it runs at higher temps

Really?

A good thrash will get the engine hotter than pootling about on LPG, and most systems switch back to petrol as soon as you start to thrash it.

My GF had her 200SX converted, she uses the car for long distance commuting, it's halved her fuel bill roughly, down to £75 per week vs £150 previously. Will have paid for itself quite soon.

BigglesPiP · 23 Mar 2010 at 19:22

Lum said:
Really?

A good thrash will get the engine hotter than pootling about on LPG, and most systems switch back to petrol as soon as you start to thrash it.

This is true regarding the engine as a whole, but I suspect it's more to do with the temperature of combustion and the valves/pistons/cylinder head/etc.

Pootling about with a pinking motor can burn a valve or a piston.

Gaygle · 23 Mar 2010 at 19:25

CoxyBoy123 said:
I am thinking of a BMW e36 tourer, because you dont lose boot space and its still quite luxurious, anybody heard any bad points about these car whether it be to do with LPG or Not

24 hours ago you wanted something smaller than a Vauxhall Meriva (even a Fiesta was too big), that was good on fuel...

...and your answer to that is a 15 year old BMW estate?

*generic fail pic*

mattyg · 23 Mar 2010 at 19:39

ajstan said:
Can't go on eurotunnel, damages engine slightly because it runs at higher temps

I read an article about a Aussie haulage firm that tested LPG HGV's and vans and found that the engines lasted a lot longer with LPG as its less corrosive than petrol.

I can't find the actual article but here is another one

http://www.lpgautogas.com.au/index.cfm?action=News&unq=142&Type=R

bullit in head · 23 Mar 2010 at 21:00

I recently had my galaxy converted,(I did it myself) the only scare I heard was that the valve stems/seals can wear prematurely due to the lpg not being a good enough lubricator, but this was on high mileage car that ran at motorway pace all day( I was given the warning about zetec engins not having hardend valves as well( mine isnt a zetec)

it still needs a final set up, but the last tank was 20mpg on gas, it normally does 23mpg on petrol. but the fuel is half the price so equiv to 40 mpg.....

bullit

CoxyBoy123 · 23 Mar 2010 at 23:00

Gaygle said:
24 hours ago you wanted something smaller than a Vauxhall Meriva (even a Fiesta was too big), that was good on fuel...

...and your answer to that is a 15 year old BMW estate?

*generic fail pic*

As to this my friend, its what you get for leaving your computer alone, and living with a ****ty 13 yr old brother, apologies all round

[TW]Fox · 23 Mar 2010 at 23:04

CoxyBoy123 said:
As to this my friend, its what you get for leaving your computer alone, and living with a ****ty 13 yr old brother, apologies all round

So you have a 13 year old brother who makes threads about LPG powered car purchases for a laugh?

Yea, good one, but denied.